Britain selected the Piranha V vehicle platform, as the Provisional Preferred Bidder for Utility Vehicle Design for its Future Rapid Effect System (FRES) program.

Piranha V won after extensive competitive evaluation against the German-Dutch Boxer and French VBCI. The new platform, defined as a medium weight armored vehicle aims to be fielded by 2012 and is expected to replace some of the APCs currently in service with the British Army, including the wheeled Saxon, and tracked FV 430 and CVR(T) armored fighting vehicles.

Piranha V is designed for maximum gross vehicle weight (GVW) of 28 metric tons (62,000 lbs), compared to combat loaded US Army Stryker, fitted with SLAT armor kit which weighs about 20 metric tons (43,000 lbs).

The vehicle will be equipped with an uprated power-train, to accommodate the larger weight and power management to customize the increased power demands of a fully digitized platform. While the initial versions will be powered by a diesel engine, General Dynamics is planning to introduce hybrid electrical or full-electric drive as such systems become mature in the future.